Sophia Rodriguez WIKI PAGE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Srodriguez900/sandbox

TED Ed, TED Talks, and TED Youth Clubs

TED Talks are forms of speeches that date back to ancient Greece, where many great intellectuals, doctors, lawyers, scholars, professors, politicians gathered to speak to each other about their ideas and findings. They shared what they believed was most important and beneficial for the citizens to know. Then, on February 23, 1984, the first TED Talk video was released: "TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages." The purpose of these TED Talk videos are not for any financial benefits, but simply for the benefit of sharing information and spreading it across countries, breaking religious, cultural, and language boundaries.

Audience

Aside from TED Talks being a "global community, welcoming people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world," it is also for the curious person, the life-long learner. ^[1] When I first heard of TED Talks, I asked myself "How much do I have to pay to watch these videos?" The answer was nothing. The website was free to the public. Anyone with a computer, phone, or anything with internet had access to these videos. Slowly, more and more people began tuning in. It got to the point where I even saw Rita F. Pierson's video "Every Kid Needs a Champion" video as an opener in my New Teacher Training Academy for LFCISD. ^[2] The audience has grown so much, fitting hundreds of topics and categories. They are very much like Podcasts. Again, when I first heard of Podcast, they seemed like a foreign, complicated, abstract, techy thing to access. I didn't think Podcasts necessary to me, and I found now gain or benefit in discovering what they were. However, one day, I tapped the app, and with the click of a button, I accessed hundreds and thousands of stories, information, facts, recipes, and so much more through Podcasts. Informative and widespread services like these really shape our modern world.

Initiative

After digging deeper, looking through many TED Talks and analyzing them, trying to find what they have in common, the realization that almost every TED Talk is linked to one's identity whether it is about their search for it through hobbies, or about how their identity helped them overcome an obstacle, or simply share tips and advice on how to love yourself, how to be successful, and how to be you. The pattern of identity has always been the backbone of TED Talks. The power of a TED video can have so much impact on a person. It can inspire them to be themselves, be who they want to be, do what their heart desires, change the world, become better, inspire others, help others, and all the while, learning. The curiosity of a person can drive them to the whole world and back, and still ask for more.

TED Youth

The widespread videos and influence of TED Talks have increased so much throughout the years that TED Talks are now reaching the future of our world: children. There is a whole section on TED Youth where children ranging from the future artist, performer, engineer, politician, to even scientists and teachers or doctors. These TED Youth talks are so much more viral and impactful at the young age because they are so easily influenced by these positive, curious, life-learning skills.

Youth engages in a powerful TED speech.

^[3] Just to note how powerful and influential these TED Talks are, I wanted to say that I will be starting a TED-Ed Club in my middle school. I am so excited because the kids already have a few topics that spark their passion and push them to the curiosity side of them.

Overall, that's what TED Talks are all about, they satisfy that curious personality within us. They influence us to continue learning, to be better, to strive, to reach out to our own identity and grow with it.